Baird to chair Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Rep. Jim Baird (R--Greencastle) has been appointed to serve as chairman of the Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

The District 44 state legislator will also serve as a member of the Environmental Quality Service Council.

"I look forward to the discussions to be had and the work to be accomplished through these summer study committees," Rep. Baird said.

"The House worked on legislation this past session that will aid military families, military parents and military students. I am honored to be appointed to this committee and look forward to addressing issues facing our military and veterans over the interim."

Rep. Baird, a veteran himself, has looked at and worked with military and veterans issues and has previously served as a member of the Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. This is his first year serving as chairman.

He will also be a member of the Environmental Quality Service Council. Every year after the legislative session is completed, the Legislative Council meets to assign topics for study during the interim as well as establish any new interim committee that is needed to examine a particular issue. Most interim committees will begin meeting in July with their work wrapping up toward the end of October.

"Each legislator has been assigned to their specific committee with both new and old topics of discussion," Baird said. "The summer study committees provide an opportunity to exam issues facing Hoosiers more closely, and I look forward to coming together with other members of the House to seek solutions in the interim."

Rep. Baird represents District 44, which includes all of Putman County as well as parts of Clay, Parke and Vigo counties.

Interim committees are an integral part of the legislative process. Even though session has adjourned for 2012, legislators will be continuing their duties by conducting in-depth studies of various topics assigned to their committees. Interim committees with specific expertise receive public testimony and work out the details of proposed legislation before it is introduced in the 2013 session.

To see a complete list of the assigned committees, member appointments and what the committees are charged with studying, visit www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/.

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